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Once Almost Extinct in Japan, This Dog Breed Thrives in Taiwan

Ralph Jennings

   TAIPEI, TAIWAN - A medium-sized hunting dog breed called the Shiba Inu
   once faced extinction in Japan because of war and disease.
   Now the breed is a pet owner rage in Taiwan. The size and temperament
   of the fluffy orange-and-white dogs mesh with people's apartment
   lifestyles in dense Taiwanese cities, the dog owners say. Their
   penchant for the dogs reflects a liking for Japanese culture and helps
   sustain the species.
   Taiwan's Council of Agriculture says it doesn't keep tabs on how many
   Shiba Inus live on the island, but one dog seller moves four puppies
   per month and a local club for people who own the breed has about 60
   members, who average more than one dog each.

   Anyone passing through a Taipei park in the early evening will see at
   least a couple of them being walked.

   "The basic way to say it is they're easy to raise and their overall
   quality is strong," said Lee Yu-tsung, owner of a pet store in the
   Taiwanese city Taichung.

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